Wednesday, January 4, 2012

My heart is so full right now I feel like it's going to burst. Writing
out my emails beforehand has proved to be one of the best decisions I
have ever made.

New Year's was a great experience and probably one of the best, New Year's that I have ever had.

We had lot going on that day and had to be in early because of the
fireworks (bombs) that start going off at dark. We were able to go to a
wedding and attend the following baptism of people that I have been able
to know and interview in the Batasan area of our district. It was very
simple, but really touching. What a way for them to end that year and
begin the next - fresh, with one another.

Afterwards, Bishop Tapan and his family, had us and our housemates over
for dinner. We were surprised that night by late Christmas presents from
a member in the Don Atonio Ward who got us matching tie clips. I was
touched by the thought.

Our new tie clips

We made it home and bought some things to cook. New Year's was in the
air in our subdivision and fireworks started as soon as dark came. We
were all too excited to sleep, and with all the music blaring and bombs
going off outside, it was impossible anyway. So we made a
breakfast-for-dinner kind of meal around ten, and made banana pancakes
and bought ice cream. Ice cream here is a really, really big deal
because it's beyond expensive. So we decided that we should do something
special for ourselves that night and treat ourselves to some ice cream.
It was well worth it.

When eleven o'clock rolled around, I decided that I wanted to make the
last hour of the year somewhat meaningful, so I decided to spend some
time writing letters of thanks to people who have really touched me this
year, like Elder Posadas, and many, many more while listening to the
renditions of hymns that Jason has continued to make me. At about ten
minutes till, I decided the best thing to do would be to end the year
with a prayer of thanks, and kneeled down my bed and thanked God for all
the blessings, and most importantly trials I've had this past year.
When I realized all the things I've experienced this year, I couldn't
believe how blessed I had been in 2011.

A few minutes later, I joined the others just outside the door watching
the fireworks that our neighbors were setting off. The excitement was so
thick that you could embrace it. As it got closer and closer to
midnight, it seemed like the whole neighborhood was coming out of their
houses and onto the streets. Our neighbors were blasting their sound
system to my favorite Christian
rock-artist - Chris Tomlin. It had been awhile since I had heard any
music from him, but the particular song playing at the time was about
love. I was
so touched by the lyrics that talked about how love will find a way. It
really set the tone for the New Year.

Then, it was like the sky roared and started to burn, families started
screaming and jumping up and down, and smiles and laughs were just as
bright as the fireworks in the sky. It was the New Year. At that moment,
I felt like I was being embraced by love, seeing love all around me in
the people and hearing it in the music. As I looked up into the lit sky,
I felt like I could see the faces of
the people I loved and cared about the most - mom, dad, Jason, Farah,
family -
the Squires, the Posadases - and shut my eyes, trying to hold back tears
that were already streaming down my face, and wished you all a Happy
New Year in my heart.

A modern art picture for Jason.

The Ragasa Family and some.

The next day, it seemed like everyone in the ward wanted to have us over
to celebrate the New Year. We didn't have enough time to make it
everywhere, but made it to the Ragasa family, another Ilocano family who
was proud to have us over. They had prepared a great meal for us and
invited other members over as well to celebrate. The family probably
thought I was a little rude because I was so quiet, but I was literally
speechless from their overwhelming kindness to my companion and I, as
well as the other members there. Speechless because everything just
seemed to be lining up.

Brother Ragasa and Elder Betita.

My surprise present from Elder Shumway's family.

For the New Year, I thought a lot about the song that played that night
and how I felt like it was God's message to me for 2012. There was one
line that really cut me that talked about how love is the answer and
love will find a way.

Thinking about the anxiety coming from my mission coming to a close and
changes that will come soon, I've thought about what exactly has me
worried about leaving my mission and why saying goodbye to people is so
hard. Is it worth it to get close to people and love people if we will
inevitably always have to let go of them?

After a lot of searching, it all leveled down to one phrase repeated many times in 1 John in the New Testament: God is love.

I've considered what that phrase means, and how it's true and makes
sense. Everything good comes from God, and the most pure, good thing in
the universe is love. I've thought about when I am the happiest, and
it's when I feel loved or am able to share love for someone. I've
thought about our family and best friends, and those I haven't seen in
years, and the miracle being that I don't love them any less, and they
don't love me any less regardless. What I have learned is that when we
truly love someone, God is there, and that He is what binds those
people. Love will keep people together. Love will always find a way,
because God will always find a way.
Knowing that has brought me so much comfort to face this coming year.
There are no goodbyes for those who truly love. Those relationships will
endure and can be eternal if we choose to live according to the bounds
the Gospel has set. My new favorite scripture is Proverbs 17:17: A
friend loveth at all times. So my resolution for this year is to not be
afraid to love because of goodbyes, but to just love and find more
people to love, and although goodbyes will still be hard, maybe they
won't be as hard in 2012.

Happy New Year.

Love,
Elder Corpuz

The Torch is Raised.

Entered on July 14, 2010.

Homecoming

Elder Corpuz will be speaking in the Palo Verde Ward Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, July 15, 2012 at 11:00am located on 10550 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89135.